Chief Engineer - ML, Physical AI, & Autonomy

About the role

Blue Origin is building a world-class Machine Learning, Physical AI, and autonomy organization to power our next generation of space vehicles, lunar systems, and robotic platforms. Our vision of millions of people living and working in space will require advanced robotics and Physical AI of all kinds. To this end we are seeking a senior ML / Autonomy / Physical AI technical leader to anchor this capability — architecting and training the models that will enable autonomous operations on the lunar surface and across our space systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and training of ML models for autonomy, perception, decision-making, and control in space applications
• Define the digital twin simulation and training pipeline needed for the different lunar surface and in-space applications
• Operationalize models — deploy, run, and integrate into Blue Origin systems and infrastructure
• Recruit, build, and lead a focused team of 6-8 ML/autonomy engineers
• Define autonomy reference architectures spanning lunar surface operations, in-space servicing, autonomous landing, and orbital robotics
• Partner with GN&C, avionics, software, and systems engineering to translate research advances into deployable autonomy
• Champion V&V, runtime assurance, uncertainty quantification, and safety cases for high-consequence space systems
• Represent Blue Origin with customers, partners, and academia
• Brief Executive leadership on autonomy capability and roadmap

Requirements

• M.S. in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Applied Math, or related technical field
• 12+ years (Level 7) / 10+ years (Level 6) of progressive experience developing autonomy, robotics, or ML systems for real-world deployment
• Industry leader in developing AI/ML models and training techniques for physical AI
• Deep expertise in two or more of the following:
• Model architectures and training techniques for Physical AI systems
• Computer vision and perception (detection/segmentation, SLAM, visual-inertial odometry, sensor fusion)
• Robotic manipulation, grasping, and contact-rich tasks
• Modern ML stack (PyTorch / JAX / TensorFlow), training pipelines, and model deployment
• Decision-making under uncertainty (RL, MPC, MDP/POMDP, hybrid planning)
• GNC-integrated autonomy (rendezvous & proximity operations, hazard detection & avoidance, terrain-relative navigation, powered descent guidance)
• Multi-agent / swarm systems and distributed autonomy

Qualifications

• Production-quality coding skills in Python and C/C++
• Excellent technical communication; able to brief executives, customers, and engineers

Skills

• Model architecture & training
• Defining digital twin simulation and training pipeline
• Platform integration
• Team building
• Technical strategy
• Cross-functional integration
• Assured autonomy
• External engagement
• Executive visibility

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
• Education Support Program
• Stock Options
• Paid Time Off